: to fail to take care of :neglect<let himself go and got real fat — Bill Parcells>

— let it all hang out

: to reveal one's true feelings : act without dissimulation

— let one have it

: to subject to vigorous assault

— let one's hair down

: to act without pretense or self-restraint

— let rip

1

: to utter or release without restraint <let 'er rip>

2

: to do or utter something without restraint <let rip at the press>

— let the cat out of the bag

: to give away a secret

Origin of LET

Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil

First Known Use: before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of LET

hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use <we hired a car for the summer><decided to let the cottage to a young couple>. lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease <the diplomat leased an apartment for a year>. rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting <instead of buying a house, they decided to rent><will not rent to families with children>. charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use <charter a bus to go to the game>.